Automatic ticket-dispensing skee ball machine



F. D. JOHNS March 1, 1960 AUTOMATIC TICKET-DISPENSING SKEE BALL MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet .1

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March 1, 1960 F. D. JOHNS 2,926,915

AUTOMATIC TICKET-DISPENSING SKEE BALL MACHINE Filed Jan. 31, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. rem/e 0. c/Qfl/V-LS,

United States Patent 2,926,915 AUTOMATIC TICKET-DISPENSING SKEE BALL MACHINE Frank D. Johns, Daytona Beach, Fla. Application January a1, 1958, Serial No. 712,498

3 Claims. 01. 273-95 This invention relates to target game apparatus of the type in which balls are projected against targets, and more particularly to a skee ball machine provided with a scoring register and having an automatic ticket-dispensing mechanism associated therewith and operating to dispense tickets as a player reaches predetermined cumulative score values, the tickets being exchangeable for free games, prizes, or other rewards.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved target game apparatus of the type including a scoring register operating in response to the strikmg of the target to display respective cumulative score values, the apparatus being provided with means for automatically dispensing tickets when predetermined cumulative score values are reached by a player, the apparatus being simple in construction, involving relatively few parts, and being provided with means for preventing any ticket-dispensing action during the time that the register is returned to its starting position. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ticket-dispensing attachment for skee ball machines, said attachment involving relatively inexpensive components, being easy to install on a conventional skee ball machine, and providing a means to heighten interest and entertainment derived from using a skee ball machine by providing a means to automatically dispense tickets when the scoring register of the machine shows predetermined cumulative score values, the tickets being exchangeable for prizes or free games, whereby a player is rewarded for his skill.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedtickct-dispensing attachment fora skeball machine, said attachment being easy to install on a conventional machine, and greatly increasing the amusement value of the machine by providing an incentive for attaining a high score,namely, by automatically dispensing tickets which may be exchanged for free games or articles of value.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a free ball machine provided with automatic ticket-dispensing means according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view, similar to Figure 2, buttaken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1 Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the rotary scoring register of the skee ball machine of Figures 1 to 3, said view being taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the rotary scoring register, taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical connections of the automatic ticket-dispensing mechanism employed in the skee ball machine of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of 'ice portions of a modified form of switch-actuating means associated with the rotary scoring register of the skee ball machine.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to Figure 7, showing a further modified form of switch means for energizing the ticket dispenser, which may be employed in a skee ball machine, according to this invention.

Figure 9 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevuti-onal view of a further modification of a switch means operated by the rotary scoring register of a skee ball machine which may be employed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 1111 ofFlgure 10.

Referring to the drawings, 12 generally designates a skee ball machine of the type which balls are projected against respective targets, for example, are rolled along an alley 13, engaging a curved abutment 14 and are projected upwardly toward an inclined target board 15. The target board is provided with respective enclosures defined by upstanding wall members 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, defining enclosures which may receive the ball, and wherein respective score values may be registered responsive to the the reception of a. ball. The action is transmitted to a register mechanism of a conventional type, shown at 21, said mechanism comprising a drum to which are hinged a plurality of score-indicating cards 22 which are displayed through a window 23 provided on the upstanding rear portion 24 of the apparatus. Thus, the register ,21 may be provided with the spaced laterally projecting pins 25 which are engageable by a pawl member 26 carried on the end of a lever 27, the lever being rotated by conventional mechanism, not shown, through a link rod 28 connected to the end of the lever so that the lever operates responsive to the reception of a ball in one of the enclosures on the inclined scoring board 15. The pawl member 26 is moved down by lever 27 through a distance corresponding to the magnitude of the score value, whereby the pawl member 26 on its upward stroke rotates the register drum in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, through an angle corresponding to said score value, thus allowing the associated score-indicating card 22 to move downwardly past a retaining yoke 29 and rotate to a depending vertical position in which it is visible through the score-indicating window 23.

The register drum is returned to its initial position by means of a hand lever 30 located at one side of the machine adjacent the forward end thereof, the lever 30 being released by a conventional coin-actuated mechanism designated generally at 31. Thus, when a player desires to use the machine, he drops a coin in the mechanism 31, releasing the lever 30, so that it may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction from the position thereof shown in Figure 3. The lever 30 is connected by a link rod 32 to one arm of a bell crank 33. The other arm of the bell crank 33 is connected by a link rod 34 to a reset arm 35 which is rigidly secured to a gear sector 36. Sector 36 meshes with a pinion gear 37 secured coaxially to the register drum, so that the drum is rotated to its starting position by the cooperation of the sector gear 36 and the pinion gear 37 responsive to the downward rotation of the reset arm 35.

It will be understood that the resetting mechanism is conventional per se and forms no part of the present invention.

As will be seen from Figure 5, the reset arm 35 is carried on a cam 38 which cooperates with a cam lug 39 on the lever 27 to rotate the lever so that the lever lock- I which it is desired to dispense tickets.

the mechanism being connected in any suitable manner to one of the conductors 63 or 69, for example, to the conductor 69. Mounted on a bracket 73 is a resilient contact arm 74, the bracket 73 being suitably insulated from the frame of the mechanism, and the arm 74 extending upwardly so that its end portion may be conductively engaged with the contact carried by the register drum at the respective designated positions of the drum corresponding to the selected cumulative score values at The conductor 68 is connected to the resilient contact arm 7-4, whereby conductor '68 is electrically connected to conductor 69 when arm 74- conductively engages one of the contacts 70 on the side of the register drum 21.

A further switch means responsiveto the rotation of the register drum 21 to connect conductors 68 and 69st designated positions of the drum is illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. As in the embodiment described in Figures conductor 69 in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 8. A contact arm 74' is rigidly secured to the upstanding support member 61 and is insulated therefrom in the manner shown in Figure 11. Thus, the arm 7-4, receives the shaft 89 of the drum and is insulated therefrom by suitable insulating bushings 81 and '82 which clampingly engage on opposite side surfaces of the arm 74 and hold the arm 74 against rotation. Thus arm 74' is held stationary in a position extending parallel to the side of the drum ZL-and the arm 74 is provided with a contact element 83 at its end portion facing the drum 21 and engageable with the contact element lti.

As shown in Figure 11, the conductor 68 is connected to the resilient contact arm 74, whereby conductor63 is electrically connected to conductor 69 whenevercontact element 83 engages one of the drum contacts 70. This occurs at designated rotated positions of the register drum 21 corresponding to the selected cumulative score values at which tickets are to be dispensed. As in the previous forms of the invention, whenever the conductor 68 is connected to the conductor '69, except during resetting action of the apparatus, the solenoid 55 becomes energized and dispenses a ticket.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved ticket-dispensing mechanism associated with a target game apparatus have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

in a target game apparatus of the type including a support, a rotary scoring drum mounted on the support and provided at its periphery with score indicia elements displayed in response to the striking of targets, and reset means includ ng a manually operated reset member and means constructed and arranged to return said scoring drum to its starting position responsive to operation of said reset member, an electrically operated ticket dispenser, a source of current, a normally open switch located adjacent said drum, means on thepdrum constructed and arranged to close said switch at a position of the drum corresponding to a predetermined score value, a first contact arm, a resilient second contact arm, means mounting said contact arms on the support adjacent said reset member, a projection on said reset member normally engaging said resilient contact arm and holding said resilient contact arm in engagement with said first contact arm, said projection disengaging from said resilient contact arm when said reset member is operated to return the scoring drum to its starting position, whereby said resilient contact arm disengages from said first contact arm, and circuit means connecting said source of current to said ticket dispenser through said switch and said contact arms, whereby to dispense a ticket at said predetermined score value except during operation of said reset member.

2. In a target game apparatus of the type including a support, a rotary scoring drum mounted on the support and provided at its periphery with score indicia and operating in response to the striking of targets to dis play respective score indicia associated with the targets, and reset means including a manually operated reset lever and means constructed and arranged to return said scoring drum to its starting position responsive to rotation of said reset lever, an electrically operated ticket dispenser, a source of current, normally separated switch contacts located adjacent one side of said drum, means on the drum closing said switch contacts at successive positions of the drum corresponding to predetermined successive cumulative score values, a source of current, a first contact element mounted on the support adjacent the reset lever, a resilient second contact element mounted on the support between the reset lever and the first contact element, a projection on said lever normally engaging said resilient contact element and normally holding said resilient contact element in engagement with the first contact element, said projection disengaging from said resilient contact element when the lever is rotated in a direction to return the scoring drum to its starting position,

whereby said resilient contact element disengages from said first contact element, and circuit means connecting said source of current to said ticket dispenser through said switch contacts and said first and second contact elements, whereby to dispense a ticket at eachof said predetermined cumulative score values except during operation of said reset lever substantially to drumresetting position.

3. In a target game apparatus of the type wherein balls are projected against targets and including a support, a rotary scoring drum mounted on the support and provided with score indicia cards pivoted to its periphery and operating in response to the striking of the targets to display respective score indicia cards associated with said targets, and reset means including a manually operated reset lever and means constructed and arranged to return said scoring drum to its starting position responsive to rotation of said reset lever, an electrically operated ticket dispenser, a source of current, normally separated switch contacts located adjacent one side of said drum, a switch-closing member on said one side of the drum and rotating therewith, said member being constructed and arranged to close said switch contacts at successive positions of the drum corresponding to predetermined cumulative score values, a pair of resilient contact arms mounted on said support and depending adjacent said reset lever, a projection on said lever normally engaging one of the contact arms and normally holding said one of the contact arms in conductive engagement with the other contact arm, said projection disengaging from said one of the contact arms when the lever is rotated in a direction to return the scoring drum to its starting position, whereby said one contact arm disengages from the other contact arm and circuit means connecting said source of current to said ticket dispenser through said switch contacts and said resilient contact arms, whereby to dispense a ticket at each of said predetermined cumulative score values except during operation of said reset lever substantially to drum-resetting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

